ISSUED: 30 January 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Department of Music will present “Avenue Q,” one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 at 8 p.m., Sunday, February 9 at 3 p.m. and Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m. in the Frank Center.
According to Variety, “Of all the musicals hatched in the post-2000 age of irony, ‘Avenue Q’ has remained the freshest and funniest.”
“Avenue Q” is the winner of the Tony Awards Triple Crown for best musical, best score, and best book. Conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, “Avenue Q” is an autobiographical and biographical coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. A laugh-out-loud musical, it tells the timeless story of a recent college graduate who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There he meets colorful types who help him finally discover his purpose in life. Although the musical is notable for the use of puppets, animated by unconcealed puppeteers alongside human actors, the show is for mature audiences, age 18 and older.
Dr. Rob Tudor, chair of the Department of Music and director of vocal activities at Shepherd, will direct this production of “Avenue Q,” with music direction by music adjunct faculty member Barbara Irvine. Tudor brings to Shepherd more than 15 years’ experience directing opera and musical theater like “Chess,” “The Apple Tree,” “Ragtime,” and “The Gondoliers.” The talented cast of Shepherd students includes Eduardo Rivera, Arielle Pizana, Yanira Diaz, Shannen Banzhoff, Jordan Bushong-Taylor, Alora Ray, Ross Tamaccio, Matthew Rothenberg, Patrick O’Grady, Mark Adelsberger, Emily Reinhardt, and Nick Etheridge.
Admission and seating for “Avenue Q” is on a first-come, first-served basis and there are no advance sales or reservations. The box office will open one hour prior to each performance. General admission is $10, $5 for Shepherd faculty, staff, alumni, and senior citizens, and free for Shepherd students with Rambler ID and Friends of Music Gold and Silver MAC Cardholders. For more information call 304-876-5555 or go to www.shepherd.edu/musicweb.
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